Monthly Archives: April 2016

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I’m watching an episode of The Doctors. Today, they’re talking about Kendra Wilkenson, who said that she will allow her 6 year old son to see her naked, sexualized picture in Playboy. She has, in fact, taken little Hank to the Playboy mansion to meet Heff. “Little Hank’s already been in his office,” she says. “Little Hank’s already seen the nude magazines. He’s already seen them! He’s cool.”

And she admits that she and Hank take baths and showers together, but is quick to point out that she’s wearing a bathing suit in the bath. “He sees me naked every day. I have no shame.”*

According to the medical and psychological professionals on the Dr.s show, teaching a child body awareness is a natural thing to do. There’s nothing wrong with that.

However, allowing a young child (6) to see hyper-sexualized photos of mom would be developmentally inappropriate. It’s a completely different context. Especially if the child is forced to view such sexually inappropriate photos of his or her mother.

That’s the word they kept using, over and over: inappropriate.

They said that seeing pictures like that would destroy the dynamic of the parent-child relationship. The child will never see his/her parent the same way again. The relationship is permanently altered. Exposing young children to any sexualized environment or situation is, at the very least, inappropriate.

Then they talked about a woman who’s suing because a picture of her was suing because an inappropriate picture of her was posted to social media. She was drunk, she says, so she was in no condition to consent also brought up another good point. I’ve said it myself once or twice. Potential employers check social media. In If a child goes to gt a job at a fortune 500 company and they do a social media check, the first thing they’re going to see is those photos of mom, dad, or auntie. Goodbye job.

I can’t imagine any responsible parent would be so insensitive as to potentially complicate a child’s future in such a way. In the case of a Playboy Bunny, it might be excusable, to a degree, because it’s a well-known establishment, and while it’s a sexually explicit magazine, it is at least done tastefully. And, these photos happened before the child in question was even thought of. It’s not something that’s ongoing. If that were the case, and mom allowed the child in question to not only see the photos, but the photo sessions, it would be a very different, HIGHLY inappropriate (criminal?) scenario.

No matter what, the needs and appropriate well-being should be considered first and foremost.

Tabetha Jones likes money. I think we’ve pretty much established that. I like money, too. Hell, don’t we all? Sure we do.

What most of us DON’T do, however, is scam, cheat, steal and beg money out of other people and then abuse them relentlessly until they go away and stop asking for it back. She does, and keeps on doing it. And no. That’s not defamation. It remains the truth as long as there are Mystic Press and Phoenix Fire authors that are still unpaid. The statutes might have run out (which she callously celebrated right here on this blog) but moral obligation doesn’t. Nor does the fact that it happened in the first place.

I think it’s pretty clear that none of them will ever get paid. All they can do is move on with their lives and careers and be grateful that she didn’t stick ’em for more. That and make sure to protect their works, past and present, to make sure she can’t use them ever again. That’s what we’re still here on this blog for: to make sure to remind past victims to protect themselves, and to warn any new, potential victims to be careful.

But what is the best way to ensure that she doesn’t victimize any authors anymore? Easy. To keep her away from the publishing world.

Toward that end, I’ve got a suggestion for her. It’s not snarky or malicious in any way. It’s a straight-up honest suggestion that I hope she takes to heart.

She could start a foundation. It’s like creating a corporation, but requires the proper paperwork. With a foundation, she could conduct business as the proper, hardworking businesswoman she claims to be. With a foundation, she could help people instead of abusing them. She claims to want to help people, so a foundation would be the best way to do that.
Foundations are created for a specific purpose. This purpose is stated when the corporation is created, in the articles of incorporation. Charitable foundations can be created in the following categories:
Religion
Educational
Science

There are a few more categories, but I doubt that she’d know very much about fostering international sports. I’m thinking her best bet would be education.

So, what purpose can she assign to her foundation in the area of education? Well, she goes goes on and on about how her father was a biker, right? Whether it’s true or not, that gives her the perfect purpose for her foundation.

A family foundation is usually created in a family member’s name. She could create the Larry Willis foundation for… something motorcycle related. To educate women who want to learn to ride their own. To provide educational materials that teach the public about being aware of biker safety in traffic. Or the need for helmet safety. Or whatever subject she can think of that would best serve the biker community in her area.

There are a lot of people that she could benefit, legitimately, if that’s truly what she wants to have happen as a result of her actions.

Many, if not most, foundations are charities with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. That means that anything she spends in the creation and maintenance of said foundation is tax-deductible, including incorporation fees, any trips she takes on foundation business (transportation, lodging, meals, etc), materials, a portion of her rent… the possibilities are endless. If she buys a paper clip to secure foundation papers, she can write it off. And then get them back as tax returns.

Foundations generally get funded by donations which those donating can then write off as charitable donations. Those funds are then granted to benefit the people and/or organizations cited in the articles of incorporation, whether it’s those burgeoning biker babes, or whatever other educational materials or services she decides to provide. And she gets an ongoing paycheck.

So, in short:

Her benefactors get to write off their contributions.
People get helped.
She and her foundation executives draw salaries.
And she gets to carry on the legacy of Larry Willis. It’s a win for everyone involved.

The only catch is that there are taxes to be paid and paperwork to be managed. But I personally think that she could handle it if she put her mind to it. She’s definitely got the gift for gab, no small measure of charm, she knows a lot of people who could be potential donors, and without any other day job, she’s got the time to dedicate to running a foundation.

How long ago was it that owner Tabetha Jones announced the closing of Phoenix Fire publishing? When she said that Dark Storm was “taking over” all tehe authors and contracts? Hang on, let me look.
There it is. I published that grab more than a year ago.
And the announcement on her FB page to back it up.
So, if Phoenix Fire publishing was closed down more than a year ago, how is it that her Draven Witch books are still for sale on Amazon? And, no. I don’t mean those shady third party dealings. Not used or secondhand. These are books that are CURRENTLY being sold on Amazon as active listings. Both on Kindle and as a paperback. I don’t think there’s such a thing as a used Kindle book, is there?

And, if Phoenix Fire closed in March 2015, how is it that the current listing was published in AUGUST of 2015? Yup. Fishy.

Anyway, there you have it. Tabetha Jones is still at it, still doing business as Phoenix Fire publishing, with current listings available. As well as whatever new scheme she’s cooking up. None of her antics are “in the past” even though she’s gone radio silent. It’s the same old song and dance.

Illegal much? Tax fraud, maybe? We’ll see what the IRS thinks of it all and let them decide what to do about it.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Needs Submissions

Here’s your chance to submit a story or poem to a book in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Anybody can submit a story or poem, but there are rules to follow. Chicken Soup stories are inspirational, true stores told in the first person. Be sure to check out the submissions guidelines and make sure your work complies. I’d hate to see good work overlooked because of a technicality.

Here are the upcoming book themes and deadlines:

Angels and Miracles / April 30th, 2015

The Joy of Christmas / April 30, 2016

Stories About Teachers and Teaching / June 30, 2016

Blended Families / June 30, 2016

Curvy and Confident / June 30, 2016

Stories about Teachers and Teaching / June 30, 2016

College Student Stories / July 31, 2016

Parent to Parent / July 31, 2016

Stories about Cats / October 31, 2016

Stories About Dogs / October 31, 2016

Best Mom Ever! / September 30, 2016

Once you’ve got your poem or story polished and ready, go to the submissions page and give it a go.

They don’t send out rejection letters, per se, but if your work is accepted, you can expect to hear from them within 60 days of the book’s release date.

Each book or poem selected for publication will fetch the author $200 dollars.